Acid Reflux

This blog is being written after a ROUGH couple of weeks that we are finally on the upswing from! In my last post I mentioned how Vance was a big spitter upper, especially when he was on his back, and he was not a good sleeper, except when he was being held upright crunched in a ball on his tummy. Well, after two weeks of getting what felt like no sleep and Vance only eating and crying we took him to the doctor and got our answer as to why we had a great baby the first two weeks and then a very unhappy baby. Vance was diagnosed with acid reflux. Apparently acid reflux babies hate their backs (check), spit up often (check), cry after they spit up (check), are soothed only by eating- even though they are not hungry (check), and have breath that smells like sour milk (check). The doctor explained that around 2 1/2-3 weeks is when a baby's stomach acid gets stronger and that is why he really didn't seem to show his discomfort until then. Vance was put on Prilosec and after a dose increase he is back to the extremely sweet baby he naturally is:) He has successfully slept flat on his back the entire course of the night for four nights now (something that he couldn't tolerate at all before- even if he was reclined on his back). Once he started getting better, however, it didn't end because I got mastitis, we all got colds, and Weston started cutting more teeth (causing him to wake up in the middle of the night too)! WHEW! I don't want to relive those six weeks! 

Now that Vance is a much happier baby he has started cooing and smiling more and more. I have tried to capture his smile for quite some time now, but this is the best I have gotten so far.

Weston is also enjoying his baby brother more now that he isn't always eating or crying. He likes to give Vance kisses and his latest thing is wanting to carry Vance. I can't leave Weston alone in the same room with Vance or he will try to pick him up on his own!

Speaking of Weston, he is turning into quite the comedian. He knows when he is doing something funny and will keep doing it to get a laugh. Today during lunch he decided to wear his bib as a hat and kept saying "Mommy hat" and then he would give me his fake laugh. He proceeded to eat the rest of his lunch this way:)

Along with Weston's increased ability to understand things is his increased capacity to remember things. We have come to dread hearing the "b" word- bubbles. He will repeat this word over and over may times through out the day and always wants to blow bubbles! It is no longer a case of out of sight out of mind.  Here is a video of him and his latest obsession.

Finally, since I have been terrible at posting toddler activities, here is an amazing book for anyone looking for ideas on what to do with their toddler and beyond.  Many of the activities are still too old for Weston, but there is still lots that he can do and some activities can be adapted for his age.  It is put out by Publications International, Ltd.